Determination of ampicillin in serum by using simple ultrafiltration technique and liquid chromatographic analysis

A new liquid chromatographic method for determination of ampicillin in canine and equine serum has been developed. The serum sample (500 microL) is vortex-mixed with 20% ethanol (500 microL) and filtered using a 30,000 molecular weight cutoff microseparation tube to separate high molecular weight solutes following low-speed centrifugation. Ampicillin is then separated from other serum components by reverse phase ion-pair liquid chromatography (LC). The ultraviolet (UV) absorbance of the column effluent is monitored at 230 nm. Recoveries of ampicillin from canine serum spiked at concentrations of 10, 40, and 60 micrograms/mL were 93.1, 100.9, and 87.8%, respectively, with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 2.91, 3.08, and 4.08%, respectively. Recoveries of ampicillin from equine serum spiked at the same concentrations were 91.6, 90.1, and 88.7%, respectively, with CVs of 3.03, 2.61, and 3.35%, respectively. The limit of detection for ampicillin by this method is less than 0.5 micrograms/mL serum.